LATN Quality Assurance Benchmarking Project

1. LATN Quality Assurance Benchmarking Project Presentation to CAUL April 2006 Gaynor Austen

2. Project objectives Participants: Curtin, QUT, RMIT, UniSA, UTS, AucklandUT. Researchers: Leanne Levinge (QUT) and Karen Tang (Curtin) Objectives • review current practice in quality assurance across ATN libraries; • identify best practice and exemplars within ATN libraries; and • identify gaps and possible areas for improvement. • overall, a collaborative, information-sharing exercise. Quality assurance in the context of this project included broad areas of: • quality frameworks and responsibility for QA; • planning – strategic and operational; • performance monitoring and measurement; • client evaluation and assessment mechanisms; and • the culture of quality within the library.

3. Methodology Literature Review • covering both national and international resources (little has been documented specifically on this topic, though the local Wilson, Pitman and Trahn, and McKinnon studies were of relevance) Questionnaires • participants completed a questionnaire about their quality assurance processes Interviews / site visits • questionnaire responses formed the basis of follow-up, in-person interviews with university librarians and ‘quality officers’ Websites / documentation • researchers considered the libraries’ relevant documentation and website resources in conjunction with other information collected

4. Key findings Different libraries have different strengths Examples of best practice amongst LATN group • A functional and well-maintained quality framework – QUT • Embedding of QA within Library’s culture – AUT/UniSA • A special annual event dedicated to planning – UTS / QUT • Use of an overall Performance Framework addressing what will be measured, why, when and by whom - Curtin • Client involvement in planning – AUT • Clear, transparent scoping of planning initiatives, with resource implications - Curtin • Use of a subset of strategic performance measures – QUT • Prompt report back to clients on satisfaction surveys - RMIT

5. Key findings Examples of gaps across the ATN libraries • Individual work plans which systematically and consistently recognise contribution to library objectives, planning initiatives or achievement of performance targets • Effective strategies for managing and reporting ongoing statistics • Effective communication of library plans to external stakeholders • Measuring impact and outcomes, rather than just inputs and outputs • Systematic, targeted comparisons with other libraries, particularly at the international level

6. Follow up • Project website to be developed for supporting documentation, illustrative examples, and ‘good practice’ resources • LATN group to consider outcomes in detail • LATN group to consider possible collaborations arising from outcomes • Individual libraries to identify and action areas for improvement according to their own priorities and needs

7. Extra benefits • Relationship building across ATN libraries • Establishment of methodology which could be used across other projects / areas • Development opportunities for researchers to increase their evaluation and project skills